Crestor (Rosuvastatin 20mg)

Crestor general information

What is Crestor used for?

Crestor tablets 20mg are used to lower high levels of cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood to reduce health risks associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), including heart attack and angina that can be caused by high cholesterol.  There are usually no symptoms associated with high cholesterol, which may be due to lifestyle (high-fat diet and lack of exercise) or can be inherited (familial hypercholesterolaemia) and is not always lifestyle dependent.  Crestor tablets 20mg are used in conjunction with a low-fat diet, when lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) are not sufficient to lower cholesterol in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia, without clinical evidence of CHD, to reduce risk of CHD and reduce the need for surgery.  Crestor tablets 20mg are used to prevent major cardiovascular events (heart attack) or cerebrovascular events (stroke) and to prevent the need for coronary artery revascularisation (bypass surgery), in those who are at risk of heart attack or stroke and to slow the progression of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).  Hypercholesterolaemia may be due to secondary causes such poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome, dysproteinaemias, obstructive liver disease, other drug therapy, alcoholism.  These should be identified and treated before therapy with Crestor tablets 20mg is started.

How does Crestor work?

Crestor tablets 20mg contain rosuvastatin which belongs to a group of cholesterol-lowing medications called statins.  Cholesterol is needed by the body for many functions such as building cell membranes, producing certain hormones and transporting fat soluble vitamins around the body.  However, if there is more cholesterol than the body needs, it becomes deposited in the artery walls where it can build up, blocking the arteries and increasing risk of heart disease.  Rosuvastatin in Crestor 20 reduces the production of cholesterol in the liver, by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis.  Rosuvastatin in Crestor tablets 20mg lowers levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) that can cause arteries to become hardened and blocked, and also increases levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) that helps unblock hardened arteries.  Crestor tablets 20mg only blocks cholesterol that is produced in the liver but has no effect on cholesterol that comes from fat in food, which is why a low-fat diet is important even when you are taking Crestor tablets 20mg. 

What does Crestor contain?

Crestor tablets 20mg contain active ingredient rosuvastatin, which is a cholesterol-lowing medication that belongs to a group of drugs called statins used to treat hypercholesterolaemia.

Treating high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) with Crestor

Crestor tablets 20mg contain the cholesterol-lowing statin medication rosuvastatin, which is used to lower levels of cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood to reduce health risks associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), including heart attack and angina that can be caused by high cholesterol.  There are usually no symptoms associated with high cholesterol, which may be due to lifestyle (high-fat diet and lack of exercise) or can be inherited (familial hypercholesterolaemia) and is not always lifestyle dependent.  Cholesterol is needed by the body for many functions such as building cell membranes, producing certain hormones and transporting fat soluble vitamins around the body, however, if there is more cholesterol than the body needs, it becomes deposited in the artery walls where it can build up, blocking the arteries and increasing risk of heart disease.  Rosuvastatin in Crestor tablets 20mg reduces the production of cholesterol in the liver, by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis.  This action lowers levels of total cholesterol in the blood as well as reducing “bad” cholesterol (LDL) that can cause arteries to become hardened and blocked, and also increases levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) that helps unblock hardened arteries.  Crestor 20 only blocks cholesterol that is produced in the liver but has no effect on cholesterol that comes from fat in food, which is why a low-fat diet is important even when you are taking Crestor tablets 20mg. 

Effects of alcohol and grapefruit on Crestor

If you drink large quantities of alcohol, you may increase the risk of liver problems when taking Crestor tablets 20mg.  Grapefruit juice in large quantities (more than one litre a day) can also increase risk of side effects as it increases the amount of Crestor 20 that gets into your blood.

What are the side effects of Crestor?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Crestor tablets 20mg include constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, headache and dizziness, unusual tiredness, skin rash, itching or hives.  More serious side effects are less common and may include: muscle ache, tenderness or weakness, not caused by exercise (myopathy), rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of skeletal muscle).

When should Crestor not be used?

You should not use Crestor tablets 20mg if you:

• are allergic to rosuvastatin or any ingredients in Crestor
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have active liver disease or severe kidney disease
• have a personal or family history of hereditary muscular disorders
• have pre-disposing factors for myopathy/rhabdomyolysis, such as hypothyroidism, history of hereditary muscular disorders. alcohol abuse
• have a previous history of muscular problems from using other lipid-lowering agents
• are taking medicines that interact with Crestor, including: other lipid-lowering medications like gemfibrozil, the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, anticoagulants like warfarin, ritonavir and lopinavir for HIV, antacids for indigestion (within 2 hours)

How should Crestor be taken?

You should take your Crestor tablets 20mg swallowed whole with a glass of water once a day, preferably in the evening after your evening meal, although you can take Crestor 20 with or without food.  Crestor tablets 20mg is most effective at night when your body is resting and your liver is producing the most cholesterol.  Your doctor may increase your dose, as required.  You should see your cholesterol levels fall to within normal limits within 4 weeks, but you should continue to take Crestor tablets 20mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for the rest of your life as it helps keep your cholesterol levels from being too high and if you stop taking Crestor tablets 20mg, your cholesterol levels may rise again.  

How long should you take Crestor?

You should continue to take Crestor tablets 20mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for the rest of your life as it helps keep your cholesterol levels from being too high and if you stop taking Crestor tablets 20mg, your cholesterol levels may rise again. 

Missed dose of Crestor

If you miss a dose of Crestor tablets 20mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Crestor be stored?

You should store your Crestor tablets 20mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.